WIFE CONTEXT

WIFE CONTEXT

17-SEP-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------Gayatri and Alok, both husband and wife, were deeply troubled. Despite performing so many rituals and rituals, their sorrow remained unresolved. Sometimes there was a lack of money at home, sometimes illness, and sometimes unnecessary fights with neighbors. They couldn't understand the reason. Their business was also incurring losses. Their debt was also increasing. They had two children whose education was being disrupted.

The month of Pitru Paksha was going on. Durga Puja was also about to come. Just then, Baba Banke Bihari Ji had come to Alok's neighborhood to give a sermon. Word had spread about him that he was considered a very learned man. He knew everything about the past, present, and future.

Alok arrived at the discourse that evening with his wife, Gayatri. The pandal was crowded. Baba's discourse and bhajans were going on. Both of them thoroughly enjoyed the discourse and bhajans. Both were deeply moved. The other devotees were also dancing in joy and clapping.

Finally, after the discourse, aarti and prasad were distributed. Both husband and wife took prasad and paid their respects to Baba from a distance. Baba's resting place was behind the pandal. It was learned that Baba would meet with devotees for an hour before the meal and then rest after the meal.

When a person is troubled, they feel very grateful if someone could somehow alleviate their suffering. They are compelled to try every possible means. Sometimes they receive genuine help, and sometimes they are even more deceived.

They both reached Baba's resting place. There too, there was a huge crowd of devotees. Baba's disciples wrote their names at number fifty. When their turn came, both approached Baba, prostrated themselves before him, and sat before him with folded hands.

Baba lovingly asked, "Son, tell me what is your problem?" Alok wept and recounted his entire ordeal. Hearing his story, Baba became serious and closed his eyes for a while. A glow oozed from Baba's face. His expression was quite serious. Both gazed at Baba, hopeful.

After a while, Baba opened his eyes and said, "Listen, devotees, although these two devotees have shared this problem, it is important for everyone to know its solution. This will benefit everyone."

Look, devotees, there is a saying: "If you believe, you are God, otherwise you are stone." Emotion is of great importance in devotion. If there is no emotion in the heart, devotion is futile. Devotion without emotion is of no benefit. Even God is hungry for emotion.

When we observe any fast, there are some rules for it. If you want to observe fast and worship, then do it with full devotion and discipline, otherwise do not do it. Otherwise, instead of benefit, it will cause harm.

God does not want wealth. He becomes happy even with a handful of rice or a pot of water with devotion. Just as Lord Shri Ram ate the sour berries of Shabari, Shri Krishna became happy after eating a grain of rice from Draupadi. ​​Similarly, God does not expect show-off from us humans, but devotion. Baba said, "The Pitru Paksha is currently underway. Our ancestors are like gods to us. The more we serve and remember them during this time, the happier they become. To achieve this, we must offer water in their name daily, refrain from cutting our beard, hair, or nails, and refrain from eating garlic or onions. The most important rule is to refrain from sexual intercourse during this time. Never have sexual intercourse with your wife or any other woman. Otherwise, this rule is broken. This angers the ancestors, which hinders the well-being of the family."

Then, on the day of the Pind Daan, shave your beard and hair, trim your nails, and donate as much as you can. Feed Brahmins and the poor. All the devotees were listening to Baba's words with great attention and in a very calm manner.

Devotees, in the same way, whatever religious rituals, yagnas, havans, pujas, fasts, and vrats you perform, in addition to other rules, there is a strict rule against sexual intercourse. It is mandatory to observe complete celibacy and restraint during this time. Otherwise, serious calamities can befall them.

Both husband and wife should sleep separately on a bed on the floor.

In Alok's case, the couple followed all the rules, but from what I saw, they did not renounce sexual relations with their wives. What kind of devotion and fasting is this?

If you can't follow the rules, then don't even resolve to perform any rituals.

You won't follow the rules and blame God. There's no need to go to such pains. Just worship with devotion. God will be pleased with that.

But if you want to perform any rituals, you must exercise self-control, practice celibacy, and follow strict rules.

Hearing Baba's words, Alok and his wife, Gayatri, began to cry and said with folded hands, "Baba, forgive us. From today on, we will perform all religious rituals according to your prescribed rules. Seek forgiveness not from me, but from our ancestors, our deities, and our family deities."

Just then, a devotee asked Baba, "Baba, please tell us when and where we devotees should not have sexual intercourse with our wives." Baba said, "According to our religious scriptures, it is strictly forbidden to have sexual intercourse with one's wife during any religious ritual, on the night of the full moon and new moon, during the day, in the fourth prahar (Brahma Muhurta) (3 to 4 in the morning), during menstruation, during illness, and on the occasion of someone's death.

Similarly, it is forbidden to have sexual intercourse with any woman in a cremation ground, in a temple, or on the banks of a river.

If we follow these rules, our married life will be happy and our ritual will be successful. The rest of the results are according to our deeds. As our deeds are, so are the results.

Therefore, in today's modern age, it is necessary to perform our deeds along with devotion. This should also be given priority. That is why Goswami Tulsidas ji has said - this is the only wealth in this world, a man without deeds cannot get it.

Navratri is coming after Pitru Paksha. All the devotees should worship and pray to the Mother Goddess with full devotion and discipline. The Mother Goddess will surely fulfill everyone's wishes.

On hearing Baba's words, all the devotees started hailing him.

Alok and his wife touched Baba's feet, paid their respects, gave him Dakshina and headed towards their home. Both of them decided that from now on, if they observe fasts, they will not do it otherwise than according to the rules.